Foreign man arrested for vandalism in Pattaya, locals outraged
A foreign man was arrested by Pattaya police after being caught vandalising public property with graffiti. The suspect, whose identity has not been revealed, was detained on Saturday, March 29 shortly after concerned locals alerted police to the act.
Many residents have demanded stricter measures against foreign tourists who break Thai laws. Suggestions from the public included making the suspect remove the graffiti, paying a fine, or facing deportation and a permanent ban from reentering the country.
Some also called for tougher screening of tourists to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Locals shared personal experiences of vandalism, with reports of graffiti on electrical boxes, bridge pillars, and other public spaces, especially in Bangkok.
There were also suggestions that drug tests be conducted to check if the man was under the influence of illegal substances, alongside investigations into possible drug connections.
Several local business owners echoed concerns, stating that their properties had been targeted by similar acts of vandalism. They insisted that the offender should be made to remove the graffiti as part of their penalty, with many pushing for a permanent ban to prevent any future incidents.
Criticism of the suspect’s behaviour after the arrest also surfaced. Some pointed out how foreign offenders often appear remorseful only after being caught, with gestures like bowing or apologising seen as insincere by some members of the public.
Others stressed that, beyond paying a fine, the individual should be required to repaint the damaged areas to restore them. Some questioned whether the punishment would be enough to stop repeat offenders, raising concerns that they could simply return to Thailand after returning to their home countries.
Calls for revoking the foreign man’s visa and permanently barring him from the country were also prominent.
Pattaya police are now considering measures to prevent similar incidents in the future, including enhanced surveillance of public spaces and stronger penalties for vandalism, reported Pattaya Mail.
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